280: Chapter 280 The Call of the Moon

At the end of the light gate was endless radiance.

The moment Shen Nian stepped inside, he felt as if he had walked into a world made entirely of light.

The radiance was neither white nor golden, but a color he had never seen before—somewhere between transparent and milky white, resembling the faintest trace of light in the sky before dawn.

Yue Li walked ahead of him, her pace faster than ever, her silver-white robe casting a faint halo in the radiance.

In her hand, she clutched the black token, upon which the samsara lotus was beating frantically, its dark red light intertwining with the surrounding white light as if echoing something from afar.

Shen Nian could feel that she was trembling.

It was not out of fear, but excitement.

Innumerable years of waiting, innumerable years of loneliness, innumerable years of persistence.

Today, it had finally reached its end.

Yuehua was just ahead.

This was the sealing place of the seventh demon god origin, deep within the old site of the Reincarnation Hall.

Yue Li stopped in her tracks and glanced back at Shen Nian.

Her eyes were red, but she held back her tears.

"Shen Nian, this seat... this seat is a little scared."

Shen Nian walked to her side and said softly,

"Senior, this Disciple is here. This Disciple will accompany you."

Yue Li nodded, took a deep breath, and turned to continue walking forward.

At the end of the passageway was a stone gate.

The stone gate was not tall, only one zhang, built entirely from dark red spar, its surface densely carved with Reincarnation runes.

Those runes circulated slowly, exuding a heart-palpitating coercion—that was the aura of the Reincarnation power, the power of Yuehua, and the power that had suppressed the seventh demon god origin for countless years.

Yue Li walked up to the stone gate and pressed the token against it.

The token lit up, its dark red light intertwining with the runes on the gate, producing a muffled, thunderous roar.

The stone gate slowly opened, revealing the secret chamber behind it.

The secret chamber was not large, measuring only three zhang square.

In the center of the secret chamber floated a massive crystal core.

The crystal core was a full zhang in diameter, entirely dark red, with endless radiance contained within.

That radiance flowed slowly, resembling blood flowing through blood vessels.

Surrounding the crystal core floated six smaller crystal cores—those were the six demon god origins brought by Shen Nian.

They resonated with the main crystal core, and their dark red lights intertwined, illuminating the entire secret chamber.

Deep within the crystal core, a figure could faintly be seen.

That was a woman with an exquisite face, cascading hair like a waterfall, and wearing a white long dress.

Her eyes were closed, her complexion pale, yet the corners of her mouth carried a faint, elusive smile, as if she were having a wonderful dream.

Her hands were placed in front of her chest, holding a dark red crystal core—the seventh demon god origin.

Yuehua.

The First Hall Master of the Reincarnation Hall.

Yue Li's Master.

Yue Li knelt before the crystal core, her hands braced against the ground, her entire body trembling.

Her lips parted and closed slightly as if she were saying something, but Shen Nian could not hear clearly.

Her tears finally fell, drop by drop, onto the dark red spar ground, making faint sounds.

Countless years had passed.

She had waited for countless years.

From the moment her Master walked into the magic array, from the moment her Master's back disappeared into the radiance, from the moment she guarded the empty Reincarnation Hall alone, fought against the entire starry sea alone, waited alone, and persisted alone.

She thought she would never cry again.

She thought her tears had already dried up.

But she was wrong.

She was still crying.

Because she had finally waited for this day.

Shen Nian stood behind her, not stepping forward nor disturbing her.

He knew this was Yue Li's moment.

A moment he could not intervene in.

He just stood quietly by the side, accompanying her.

After a long time, Yue Li finally raised her head.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and her complexion was pale, but her gaze was firmer than ever.

She stood up, turned around, and looked at Shen Nian.

"Shen Nian, give your demon god origin to this seat."

Shen Nian took out the six dark red crystal cores from his storage ring, held them respectfully with both hands, and presented them before Yue Li.

Yue Li took the crystal cores and placed them one by one into the circular grooves surrounding the main crystal core.

The first one, guarded by Pangu.

The second one, guarded by God Yi.

The third one, guarded by Nong.

The fourth one, guarded by Xuanyuan.

The fifth one, guarded by Kashyapa.

The sixth one, guarded by Xuantian.

The moment the six crystal cores were embedded into the grooves, they lit up simultaneously.

Dark red radiance surged from the six crystal cores and poured into the massive crystal core in the center.

The crystal core began to beat like a heart.

With every beat, dark red light surged from the crystal core, echoing throughout the secret chamber.

Deep within the crystal core, Yuehua's figure began to become clear.

Her complexion changed from pale to ruddy, her breathing shifted from weak to steady, and her fingers began to curl slightly.

Yue Li knelt before the crystal core, pressing her hands against its surface, and closed her eyes.

Using the secret art of the Reincarnation Hall, she activated the Seal within the crystal core to awaken the slumbering Yuehua.

Shen Nian could feel a majestic Reincarnation power surging out from within Yue Li's body, flowing along her palms into the crystal core.

That was the power she had accumulated through countless years of Cultivate, and everything she had prepared for this day.

The beating of the crystal core grew faster and more intense.

The radiance grew brighter and increasingly blinding.

The walls of the secret chamber began to tremble, the ground began to crack, and countless fine fissures spread outward from the crystal core.

Shen Nian gripped the qinglian sword tightly, the six-color Legacy power circulating within his body, ready at any moment to respond to unexpected situations.

He knew that awakening Yuehua would not be so smooth.

The seventh demon god origin had been sealed within Yuehua for countless years, having long since merged with her Life.

To take out the demon god origin was to take out her Life.

But if it was not taken out, the Gate of Reincarnation could not be opened.

Those harvested Souls could not be resurrected.

This was a dead end.

Yue Li knew this as well.

But she did not stop.

Because she believed her Master would not die.

Because she believed that countless years of waiting would not be in vain.

Because she believed that what Shen Zhao had promised her, Shen Nian would fulfill for him.

The beating of the crystal core suddenly stopped.

The radiance also stopped surging.

The secret chamber fell into dead silence.

Yue Li's hand remained on the surface of the crystal core, her complexion as pale as paper, her eyes filled with terror.

"Master..."

Her voice was very soft, as light as a sigh about to dissipate in the wind.

There was no response.

Deep within the crystal core, Yuehua's figure was still there, eyes closed and unmoving.

But the faint, elusive smile at the corners of her mouth had vanished.

Shen Nian's heart sank abruptly.

He stepped forward and pressed his hand onto the crystal core.

The six-color Legacy power surged from his palm and poured into the crystal core.

The progenitor Origin mark within the qinglian sword was also awakened by him, and the Fourteen-Color Power circulated across his skin.

He closed his eyes and sank his mind deep into the crystal core.

That was a dark Void Realm.

Within the Void Realm floated a faint radiance.

That was Yuehua's consciousness, trapped within the crystal core for countless years and nearly on the verge of dissipating.

Shen Nian's consciousness approached that light and called out softly,

"Senior Yuehua, this Disciple is Shen Nian, a student of Shen Zhao. This Disciple has come to save you. This Disciple brought your Disciple Yue Li. She is waiting for you outside. She has waited for countless years for you to return."

The light flickered gently.

A faint voice resounded in his mind, very soft and delicate, resembling an infant's murmur.

"Lier... Is she doing well?"

Shen Nian's tears welled up in his eyes.

"She is doing well. She has always been waiting for you. She has not given up."

The light flickered once more.

"This seat... this seat misses her too. This seat thinks of her every day. This seat wants to see her, wants to talk to her, wants to hug her. But this seat cannot get out. This seat is trapped here and cannot leave."

Shen Nian took a deep breath.

"Senior, this Disciple will help you get out."

He raised his hand and injected the Fourteen-Color Power into that light.

The light began to brighten, growing brighter and brighter.

Within the dark Void Realm, that light shone brilliantly like a star in the darkness.

Within the radiance, a figure was slowly condensing.

First a pair of feet, then the legs, the torso, the arms, and finally the head.

Yuehua.

Not the slumbering Physical Body within the crystal core, but her consciousness—the consciousness that had been trapped for countless years had finally gained freedom.

She opened her eyes, looked at Shen Nian, and her eyes were filled with gratitude.

"Child, thank you."

Shen Nian shook his head.

"Senior, this Disciple only did what should be done."

Yuehua smiled, her smile as warm as the spring sunlight.

She turned around and flew toward the exit of the radiance.

Shen Nian's consciousness followed closely behind.

The two of them rushed out of the crystal core together and returned to the secret chamber.

Yue Li was still kneeling before the crystal core, pressing her hands against its surface, eyes closed, tears silently sliding down.

She did not know what had happened, did not know what Shen Nian had done, and did not know that her Master's consciousness had already awakened.

She was simply waiting.

Waiting for a miracle that might never come.

Yuehua's figure floated above the crystal core, looking down at Yue Li.

Her eyes were filled with tears, but the corners of her mouth carried a smile.

"Lier."

The voice was very soft, very soft.

But Yue Li heard it.

She opened her eyes abruptly, looked up, and saw that figure.

She froze.

Her lips trembled, her body trembled, and her tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Master... Master..."

Yuehua descended from the air, crouched before Yue Li, and gently stroked her face with her hand.

"Lier, Master has returned."

Yue Li threw herself into her Master's arms and wailed aloud.

Countless years of waiting, countless years of loneliness, countless years of persistence.

At this moment, they finally received a response.

Shen Nian stood to the side, watching them embrace and weep, his own eyes turning red as well.

He did not step forward to disturb them, just standing there silently to accompany them.

After a long time, Yue Li finally stopped crying.

She released her Master, wiped away her tears, and looked at that familiar face.

"Master, you... you are still alive?"

Yuehua nodded and grasped her hand.

"Alive. This seat is still alive. Thanks to this child."

She turned her head to look at Shen Nian.

"He used his Origin Power to help this seat break through the Seal. He is the benefactor of this seat, and also your benefactor."

Yue Li turned around, knelt before Shen Nian, and kowtowed deeply.

"Shen Nian, thank you."

Shen Nian quickly helped her up.

"Senior, you do not need to thank this Disciple. This Disciple only did what should be done."

Yuehua stood up and looked at the massive crystal core.

The crystal core was still beating, but much slower than before.

The power of the seven demon god origins was separating from her Physical Body.

Once completely separated, her Physical Body would dissipate.

But her consciousness was already free and would no longer be trapped.

"This seat does not have much time left."

Her voice was soft, yet very calm.

"This seat's Physical Body cannot hold out for much longer. But this seat's consciousness remains, and this seat's power remains. The Gate of Reincarnation can be opened."

She raised her hand, and the seven demon god origins lit up simultaneously.

Dark red radiance surged from the crystal core, condensing into a light gate within the secret chamber.

Behind the light gate was endless radiance and a faint, illusory call.

That was the Gate of Reincarnation.

The door leading to the Real Layer.

The place where all harvested Souls rested.

And the hope for their Rebirth.

Yuehua turned around and looked at Yue Li.

"Lier, Master is leaving. Master is going to the Gate of Reincarnation to pave the way for those Souls. Wait for Master here. Master will return."

Yue Li shook her head and grasped her Master's hand.

"Master, this Disciple will accompany you."

Yuehua shook her head and gently stroked her head.

"No. The Gate of Reincarnation can only be entered by the Guardian. You are not the Guardian, and entering will tear you apart. Wait for Master here. Master promises you that she will definitely return."

Yue Li's tears gushed out once more, but she said nothing more.

She released her Master's hand, stepped back, and kowtowed deeply.

"Master, this Disciple will wait for you."

Yuehua nodded, turned around, and walked toward the light gate.

After taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Shen Nian.

"Child, this seat has something to tell you."

Shen Nian took a step forward.

"Senior, please speak."

Yuehua looked at him, her eyes filled with expectations.

"After this seat's Physical Body dissipates, the seventh demon god origin will return to this seat's body. By then, the seven demon god origins will be activated simultaneously, and the Gate of Reincarnation will fully open. You need to enter the Gate of Reincarnation, find those harvested Souls, and awaken them with your power. This is the only chance. If you miss it, they will never be able to come back."

Shen Nian nodded solemnly.

"This Disciple understands."

Yuehua smiled, her smile as light as the wind and clouds.

"Good, very good. This seat trusts you."

She turned around and stepped into the light gate.

The light gate slowly closed behind her, the dark red radiance growing fainter and fainter until it completely disappeared.

In the secret chamber, only the massive crystal core remained, along with Shen Nian and Yue Li.

The crystal core was still beating, but slower and slower.

Deep within the crystal core, Yuehua's Physical Body was disintegrating, starting from her feet, turning into dark red specks of light inch by inch.

Those specks of light drifted within the crystal core, merging into the demon god origin and becoming the power of the Gate of Reincarnation.

Yue Li knelt before the crystal core, watching her Master's Physical Body dissipate bit by bit, tears silently sliding down.

But she did not cry out loud.

Because she had promised her Master that she would wait for her to return.

Shen Nian stood behind her, looking at that crystal core, an indescribable emotion welling up in his heart.

He recalled how the Progenitor Shen Zhao looked when he dissipated—it was just like this, starting from his feet, turning into specks of light inch by inch.

It was just like this, smiling as he said— "Uncle, this Disciple has come."

It was just like this, leaving hope behind for those who came after.

He took a deep breath, walked up to the crystal core, and pressed his hand onto it.

The six-color Legacy power surged from his palm and poured into the crystal core.

The progenitor Origin mark within the qinglian sword was also awakened by him, and the Fourteen-Color Power circulated across his skin.

He was using his own power to stabilize the crystal core and delay the dissipation of Yuehua's Physical Body.

Not for anything else, but simply to give her more time.

More time to go to the Gate of Reincarnation and awaken those Souls.

More time to fulfill her mission.

More time... to return.

Yue Li turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"Shen Nian, thank you."

Shen Nian shook his head.

"Senior, this Disciple is not helping you. This Disciple is helping everyone."

He closed his eyes and poured even more power into the crystal core.

The beating of the crystal core began to stabilize, no longer as sluggish.

The disintegration speed of Yuehua's Physical Body also slowed down.

In the secret chamber, there was only the beating sound of the crystal core and the sound of their breathing.

Shen Nian did not know how long they would have to wait.

Perhaps a day, perhaps a year, or perhaps even longer.

But he was not in a rush.

Because he knew this was worth it.